Dhuri by-election- a bitter reminder of Rajiv-Longowal accord, may change course of Barnala family

By Satinder Bains
The result of Dhuri by-election held on April 11 is expected to change the political course of family of Surjit Singh Barnala former Governor whose grandson is contesting on Congress party ticket. The by-election has also exposed the role of various SAD leaders in the  Rajiv-Longowal accord  signed on July 24, 1985 between the then Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi and former Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) president late Sant Harchand Singh Longowal to bring peace in the trouble torn border state of Punjab.

The result of the by-election will be declared on April 15. This seat was vacated due to resignation by Congress MLA Arvind Khanna.

The Barnala family would face a major challenge after the result of elections is declared whether to join Congress party or continue with SAD(Longowal). Simar Partap Singh son of former MLA Gagandeep Singh Barnala has to decide his future of course in the politics. At the same time the Barnala family has to put the records straight on its role in Rajiv-Longowal accord in wake of serious allegation of betrayal levelled by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during campaigning.

The implementation and purpose of Rajiv-Longowal accord had failed though some of the clauses were partially implemented.  This is coincidence that both the signatories of accord, Rajiv Gandhi, Sant Longowal were assassinated. Longowal was assassinated on August 20, 1985, less than a month after signing the Accord allegedly by Sikh militants who were against any compromise with Congress party. After assassination of Sant Longowal, there was a sharp rise in radical Sikh militancy in Punjab. Former Governor of Punjab Arjun Singh who facilitated the accord between Rajiv Gandhi and Akali leaders is also dead. Former president of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) Gurcharan Singh Tohra who opposed the accord along with Badal is also not alive.

Parkash Singh Badal and Surjit Singh Barnala former Governor and Punjab Chief Minister are the only survivors’ historical pact made between the center government and moderate Sikh leaders to end agitation started by SAD and other Sikh bodies in protest against Operation Blue Star and anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and other parts of the country.

The Dhuri by-election gave an opportunity to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to rake the controversy over Rajiv-Longowal accord in wake of the decision of the Congress party to field Simarpreet Singh Barnala grand son of former Governor and Punjab Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala who headed the SAD government after accord was signed. Badal was then minister in the Barnala government. Badal has described Barnala a traitor who backstabbed the Sikh community to become Chief Minister. Barnala and former finance minister Balwant Singh (now dead) had accompanied Sant Longowal to Delhi to sign the accord.

Blaming Barnala for misguiding Sant Longowal Badal said Barnala aptly used that opportunity for grabbing the power. He said that now by accepting the Congress ticket for their grandson from Dhuri assembly segment, the Barnala family has proved that they could go to any extent for attaining political power. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that by accepting Congress party ticket for his grandson, Barnala has shown his true colours.

To encash the sympathy of people with Sant Longowal, the SAD has fielded Gobind Singh Longowal a close aide of Sant Longowal who was earlier elected MLA twice. Winning Dhuri seat is prestige issue for the SAD to gain absolute majority in the house of 117 memebr Vidhan Sabha and end dependence on its partner BJP.

Captain Amarinder Singh who addressed several election meetings in Dhuri said that Badal had betrayed Sant Longowal and sabotaged the peace accord. He hold  Badal responsible for the death of Sant Longowal and also for decade long era of militancy in the state. He also questioned the choice of Gobind Singh Longowal as SAD candidate who had refused to stand witness to the assassination of Sant Longowal in the court.

Barnala who is confined to his home in native town due to ill health has not joined the debate on Rajiv-Longowal accord. However Simarpartap, his grandson has defended him saying, " My grand father tried to bring peace in Punjab but he was not supported by Badal and Tohra".

It was agreed in the accord to transfer Punjabi speaking areas and Chandigarh-the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana-to Punjab, to refer the part of Anandpur Sahib resolution dealing with the center-state relations to Sarkaria Commission, to bring All India Gurdwara Act, rehabilitation of victims of 1984 riots and army jawans who deserted army after Operation Blue Star, share of recruitment of Punjabis in army to continue and no change in share of Punjab in river waters from Ravi and Beas. Interestingly, the SAD had agreed for the construction of Satluj Yamuna Link(SYL) canal to carry Haryana's share of water which is still a bone of contention between the two neighbouring states.

After about three decades, the contentious issue of transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab is where it was. On the sharing of river waters between Punjab and Haryana, the Eradi Tribunal was appointed but its recommendations that favoured Haryana were not acceptable to Punjab.

The prosecution of those responsible for the November 1984 anti-Sikh riots was referred to the Mishra Commission but the Congress having been absolved of all responsibility, the matter is still dragging on. Some of the army deserters were rehabilitated but demand for All India Sikh Gurdwara Act remained unfulfilled.